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After decades of armed conflict and 17 years of negotiations, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government of the Philippines have signed a historic peace treatment on March 27.

The comprehensive agreement will create the new political entity Bangsamoro, superseding the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Hopes are high that this will put an end to four decades of armed conflict between government forces and various Islamic rebel groups in the south of the Philippines.

The peace treaty was signed by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim. The ceremony in the Malacañang Palace in Manila City was also attended by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, among other dignitaries, and close to 500 MILF members.

The MILF is working towards transforming into a social movement and a political party.

As of now, most foreign governments still advise against all travel to the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao or to Western Mindanao in general, and against all but essential travel in the rest of Mindanao.